Adjustable plumbing fittings



p 20, 1966 H. R. BILLETER ETAL 3,273,919

ADJUSTABLE PLUMBING FITTINGS Filed March 16. 1965 INVENTORS HENRY R. BILLETE'R AXEL B. NELSON Fig. l

PARKER 8 CARTER ATTORNEY-5' United States Patent 3,273,919 ADJUSTABLE PLUMBlN G FITTINGS Henry R. llilleter, Deerfield, and Axel B. Nelson, Mount Prospect, 1ll., assignors to Sloan Valve Company, Chicago, llll., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 440,147 4 Claims. '(Cl. 285340) This invention relates in general to fluid connections but more particularly to plumbing fittings of the class which provide an adjustable length for a connection between two valves spaced a variable distance apart. More specifically, the invention is directed to plumbing fixtures such as water closets having a direct connected flush valve for flushing the water closet and a control valve connected to the flush valve for controlling the inlet water supply. In common practice the flush valve is connected to the control valve by a fitting or nipple which is threaded into the inlet side of the flush valve and connected to the control valve by a ground joint connection and a coupling nut.

There are a number of problems which a plumber must consider when he installs plumbing equipment of the aforesaid type. For example, when he installs the water closet in its proper position on the floor, with the flush valve mounted upon it so both are on the same vertical center line, he must be very careful to line up the inlet water supply pipe with the vertical center line of the control valve to meet the factory set dimension of 4% inches which is standard throughout the plumbing trade. Any variation in the vertical dimension is readily compensated for by the usual slip-joint or spud connection on the outlet flush tube extending from the bottom of the flush valve and into the closet bowl inlet. However, in the event that there is any variation in the horizontal roughing-in dimension between the supply pipe center-line and the flush valve, due to carelessness or other reasons on the plumbers part, no adjustment can be made, because if the connecting nipple between the flush valve and control valve is disturbed or an attempt is made to screw it in or out of the flush valve, leakage will occur. It is therefore necessary for the plumber to supply a new fitting or nipple of the correct length to establish the correct connection which he initially failed to achieve. This action causes undue delay in installation, increases costs, and is annoying to the installer. It also requires the plumber to stock an assortment of different length fittings and carry them around on different jobs.

Many attempts have been made in the past to provide a fitting or nipple between the flush valve and its control valve, which would be adjustable in length so that any variation between the vertical center-line of the two valves could be compensated for without causing leakage. Ordinary threaded pipe connections are not satisfactory because any adjustment once made could not be changed without causing leakage. The use of compression-type fittings was not practical because of the danger of blowout or leakage at high water pressures, since the connection is on the inlet pressure side of the flush valve. There is also the problem of not having sufficient room between the flush valve and control valve, due to the short nipple length, so that any possible additional elements to provide the variable length adjustment cannot be readily accommodated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fitting or nipple for the above stated purpose which overcomes all the foregoing disadvantages, which is simple in construction, easy to install, and economical to produce.

A further object is to provide a new and improved fitting which can be readily adjusted to provide for varia tions in center-line dimensions between a flush valve and 3,273,919 Patented Sept. 20, 1966 control valve up to at least inch from the standard 4% inch dimension.

Another object is to provide a novel fitting between a flush valve and its control valve which will be leakproof regardless of how often an adjustment may be made.

It is a further object of the invention to design an improved plumbing fitting and connection in which the pipes are coupled together by a locking or gripping member which surrounds one tube and is caused to grip the other tube by cutting into its outer surface, together with a separate sealing member between the tubes spaced from the gripping member.

Another object is to provide an adjustable coupling between a fitting and valve in which the connection can be repeatedly made without leakage occurring and which will not come apart under high pressures or when subjected to inadvertent twisting action between them.

Other objects, advantages, and results will be apparent from the following description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a typical flush valve installation with the invention incorporated therein;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-section of a portion of the novel fitting; while FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

In FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a well-known Sloan Royal flush valve 5 provided with the usual operating handle 6 and the threaded inlet connection 7. The outlet flush tube 8 extending downward from the flush valve 5 is connected thereto by coupling nut 9 and leads into a plumbing fixture such as a water closet or urinal (not shown), to which it is connected by the usual slip-joint connection. In the type of installation illustrated in which the flush valve 5 is exposed, the inlet water supply pipe 10 projects through the wall surface and is threaded into the rear of the control or throttle valve 11. The adjusting screw 12 in the control valve 11 enables the water supply to the flush valve 5 to be either shut off, or to throttle the flow to the proper rate to suit the plumbing fixture. A fitting or nipple 15 connects the flush valve 5 with the control valve 11. The flush valve 5 is always shipped with the fitting 15 threaded at 14 and already screwed tightly into the valve body inlet "7. The fitting is provided with ribs such as 16 formed on the inside, as seen in FIGURE 2, for the purpose of accommodating a tool or key which is inserted into the fitting to enable the same to be tightly screwed at 14 into the inlet connection 7. Upon mounting the flush valve on the water closet, and provided all dimensions are correct, the coupling nut 17 is merely tightened up to the control valve 11 to complete the installation.

However, it is not always possible for the installing plumber to properly bring out the water supply pipe 10 through the wall and have it come out to fit the manufacturers standard dimension of 4% inches, which is the distance between the center-line 19 of the flush valve 5 and associated water closet bowl, and the center-line 18 through the control valve 11 and water pipe 10. Sometimes it is possible to enlarge the hole in the wall through which the pipe 10 projects and to shift the piping slightly and then cover up the enlarged hole with the usual wall pipe flange. This can only be done when the necessary movement is small, but in the case of tiled. washroom walls this is impossible to accomplish.

The present invention makes it possible to compensate for variations in the standard pipe roughing-in up to at least inch, of which /2 inch would be to the right of the center-line 18 of the control valve 111, and 4 inch to the left of the center-line 18. This variation is considered ample since most errors are made in the direction to' the right side of center-line 18. The compensating adjustment is automatically accomplished in a simple manner by the present invention, the fitting 15 being merely inserted in the outlet 20 of the control stop 11 and the coupling nut 17 tightened up on the same to complete the connection.

As seen in FIGURE 2, the end of the fitting 15, opposite its threaded end 14, has a flanged recess 21, with flanges 21a, formed around it to accommodate an O-ring 22. The O-ring 22 is slidable and compressed within the outlet 20 of the control valve 11 and provides a positive leakproof seal between the fitting 15 and the control valve 11. A stop 23 is formed in the control valve body 11 to prevent the fitting 15 from being pushed too far into the body and interfering with the valve action. Surrounding the fitting 15 and frictionally engaging the same is a locking or gripping ring 25 which is split at 30 to provide a spring action so it can be initially slid along the outside of fitting 15. The gripping ring 25 is square-shaped in cross-section and preferably made of corrosion resistant steel, while the fitting 15 and valves and 11 are usually made of brass. The gripping ring 25 and coupling nut 17 are both placed on the fitting 15 at the time the fitting is screwed into the inlet 7 of the flush valve body 5, so that the connection to the control valve 11 can be quickly made and the parts are not likely to be misplaced during shipment. The locking ring 25 and coupling nut 17 are prevented from being removed and from the fitting 15 by the flange 21a forming the recess for the O-ring 22.

The gripping ring 25 is arranged so that one of its sharp edges 26 is normally in slidable and frictional contact with the outer surface of the fitting 15 as shown. Initially this sharp edge 26 does not bite or cut into the surface of the fitting but grips the surface only slightly so that it can be easily slid along the outside of the fitting due to the inward spring action of the gripping ring. The end of the valve outlet bore 20 is formed with an inclined annular surface 27 which is of the same angle as one of the sides of the gripping ring 25 so that the two surfaces are in slidable mating relationship. A similar inclined annular surface 28 is formed on the inside of the coupling nut 17 and abuts the gripping ring on the other side from the inclined surface 27 so that the gripping ring 25 in the final assembly, as shown in FIGURE 2, is clamped between the two inclined surfaces 27 and 28 and locked in place.

In the application of the invention, an installing plumber first roughs-in the water supply pipe as close as possible to the standard 4% inch distance from the flush valve center line 19 and then screws the throttle valve 11 on the pipe 10. Since the fitting is already factory screwed in and attached to the flush valve inlet connection 7, and the coupling nut 17 and gripping ring 25 are loose upon the fitting 15, the plumber merely inserts the end of the fitting 15 into the valve body outlet of the control stop 11. The fitting 15 slides into the outlet 20 a distance depending upon how far the plumber was at variance with the correct roughing-in. This distance could be up to /2 inch to the right hand side and at least 4 inch in the left hand direction. The coupling nut 17 is then slid along the fitting 15 carrying along the gripping ring until the coupling nut engages the threads 29 of the outlet 20 whereupon the nut is tightened to lock up and complete the connection.

As the coupling nut 17 is tightened, the gripping ring 25 is clamped between the inclined surface 27 on the end of the outlet 20, and 28 on the inner edge of the coupling nut. Dut to the fact that the inclined surfaces impart a horizontal thrust against the opposite inclined surfaces of the gripping ring 25, an inward and circumferential force is imparted to the gripping ring 25 which is effective to bite or cut its hard sharp edge 26 into the outer circumference of the fitting 15 as shown in FIGURE 2. It is held locked in this position as long as the coupling nut 17 remains tightly threaded on the end of the outlet 20 of the control valve.

Due to the fact that the gripping ring 25 gouges into the metal of the fitting 15 and is held there by the coupling nut 17, a solid connection is established which cannot be pulled apart or become disengaged on relatively high pressures. The connection can be repeatedly made and disconnected without losing its effectiveness. Moreover the O-ring 22 being under compression establishes a tight leakproof static seal between the fitting 15 and outlet 20 which is effective in any relative position in which these two parts may be coupled together. The gripping ring 25 is also somewhat effective as a seal by itself because as the coupling nut 17 is tightened and bites the sharp edge 26 into the fitting 15, the ends of the gap 30 in the gripping ring 25 are brought closer together.

The /1 inch range of adjustment is limited at one end by the extent to which the end of the fitting 15 can be inserted into the outlet 20 where it engages the stop 23, and at the outer end when the O-ring 22 will be adjacent the gripping ring 25 and still hold the connection firm and leak-proof. The connection, when finally established, cannot be blown apart in case excessively high water pressures are encountered or the coupling nut 17 is not properly tightened. Should high pressures cause the fitting 15 to be forced outward against the biting action of locking ring 25, the flange 21a around the O-ring recess 21 will contact the locking ring 25 to stop further outward movement and effectively prevent rupture or severance of the connection. This is an important feature since the O-ring 22 maintains the leak-proof engagement between the parts, and at the same time a safeguard is provided against blowout. The flush valve and control stop would merely be pulled apart slightly from their supports, or only one of them would be. The correct distance between the valves could then be reestablished and the coupling nut tightened again.

When the coupling nut 17 is unscrewed to disassemble the units, the gripping ring 26 unlocks and springs out of the groove it had cut in the fitting 15, and then can be easily slid along the fitting to a new position if desired. The groove which has been gouged in the fitting is of no further concern in the assembly when another connection is to be made.

Referring to the modification in FIGURE 3, a section of the fitting 15 is shown inserted into the valve outlet 20 and the couping nut 17 is threaded at 29 onto the outlet. In this instance the split locking or gripping ring 31 is oblong in cross-section and its lower sharp edge 32 is engaged by the coupling nut 17 while an upper side portion 33 is contacted by the outer edge of the outlet 20. Tightening the coupling nut 17 on threads 29 provides a twisting movement to the gripping ring 31 causing its upper edge 34 to bite into the outer surface of the fitting 15 as shown. This provides an effective lock or grip for holding the fitting 15 in place in the outlet 20 so that it cannot be pulled out or disturbed when once installed.

While the invention has been described and illustrated as applying to a specific purpose, namely, a flush valve installation, it is to be understood that it is equally capable of use in other types of installations involving leakproof and pressure-proof connections of many kinds where a variable adjustment is required between two fixed elements. The use of the terms flush valve and control valve is therefore only for the purpose of illustration and not limitation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a plumbing fitting, an adjustable connection for use between a flush valve and a control valve to compen: sate for variations in the relative position of the valves, said connection comprising a tubular fitting threaded at one end into the flush valve and having its other end slidably and adjustably inserted in the outlet end of said control valve to a position depending upon the relat1ve distance between the valves, the adjacent walls of said tubular fitting and said control valve being slightly spaced apart, the end of said fitting having spaced apart flanges formed thereon extending outward from the side of said fitting into close proximity to the walls of said control valve, an O-ring recessed in said fitting between said flanges and in slidable leak-proof contact with the walls of said control valve, a locking ring around said fitting slidable thereon and closely embracing the same and bridging the space between said fitting and said control valve, said locking ring having a sharp edge in slidable contact with said fitting, a coupling nut threaded upon the outside of said control valve outlet and having a clamping edge portion closely slidable along the outside surface of said fitting, said clamping nut adapted to slide and force said locking ring along said fitting into engagement with the end of said control valve outlet to a position on said fitting depending upon the relative distance between the flush valve and control valve, the contacting surfaces between said locking ring and with said coupling nut and the end of said control valve outlet being tapered whereby tightening of said coupling nut forces the sharp edge of said locking ring into biting and locking engagement with the surface of said fitting, said locking ring bridging the space between said fitting and control valve outlet, one of said flanges adapted to engage and be stopped by said locking ring to prevent outward sliding movement and blow-out of said fitting from said control valve outlet, in case said coupling nut becomes loose under high pressures whereby said fitting remains locked in said control valve outlet and said O-ring maintains a leak-proof seal therein.

2. In a plumbing fitting for connecting the combination of a flush valve inlet with a control valve outlet, one end of said fitting being threaded tightly into said flush valve inlet, the other end of said fitting having an annular recess bordered by oppositely disposed flanges extending outward beyond the outer surface of said fitting, an O-ring in said annular recess in slidable leak-proof engagement with the inner circumference of said control valve outlet, a coupling nut in threaded engagement with the outer circumference of said control valve outlet, said coupling nut having a clamping edge portion closely slidable along the outside of said fitting, a split locking ring having a square-shaped cross-section and having a sharp annular edge contacting the outer circumference of said fitting, said locking ring being arranged between said coupling nut and the end of said control valve outlet, said coupling nut adapted to slide and force said locking ring along the outside of said fitting into engagement with the end of said control valve outlet, said locking ring having opposite disposed angular surfaces engaged by similar angular surfaces on said coupling nut and on the end of said control valve outlet, whereby the sharp edge of said locking ring is embedded into the outer circumference of said fitting when said coupling nut is tightened onto said control valve outlet, one of said recess flanges adapted to engage said locking ring and thereby prevent blow-out of said fitting in the event said coupling nut becomes loose and said locking ring becomes disengaged from said fitting, the other of said flanges adapted to engage a stop in said control valve to limit excess inward adjustment of said fitting.

3. The combination of a flush valve and a control valve together with means for interconnecting the same to compensate for variations in the distance between said valves when being installed, said means comprising a fitting having one end threaded into said flush valve and the other end slidably inserted into said control valve to a position epending upon the relative distance between said flush valve and said control valve, a coupling nut threaded onto said control valve and around said fitting, said coupling nut having a clamping edge portion closely slidable along the outside of said fitting, a split locking ring around said fitting, said locking ring being square-shaped in cross-section and having a sharp annular edge in contact with said fitting, said locking ring being arranged between said coupling nut and said control valve in a position on said fitting depending upon the relative distance between said flush valve and said control valve, said coupling nut adapted to fitting to lock the same in place between said fiush valve and said control valve, and an O-ring around the end of said fitting within said control valve for providing a leakproof seal therein, said O-ring being recessed in a groove having flanges on each side thereof and extending outward from the outer circumference of said fitting, one of said flanges adapted to engage said locking ring to stop outward sliding movement of said fitting in case said coupling nut becomes loose when high pressures are encountered, said fitting thereby being prevented from becoming disconnected from said control valve and said flush valve as a consequence being shifted a limited distance apart from its initial relative position with said control valve, said O-ring being effective under such action to maintain a leak-proof seal between said fitting and said control valve, the other of said flanges adapted to engage a stop in said control valve to limit the inward sliding adjustment of said fitting.

4. The combination of a flush valve and a control valve together with means for interconnecting the same to compensate for variations in the distance between said valves when being installed, said means comprising a fitting having one end threaded into said flush valve and the other end slidably inserted into said control valve to a position depending upon the relative distance between said flush valve and said control valve, a coupling nut threaded onto said control valve and around said fitting, a locking ring around said fitting, said locking ring having a sharp annular edge in contact with said fitting, said locking ring being arranged between said coupling nut and said control valve in a position on said fitting depending upon the relative distance between said flush valve and said control valve, the tightening of said coupling nut upon said control valve being effective to squeeze said locking ring inward to embed its sharp edge into the surface of said fitting to lock the same in place between said flush valve and said control valve, an O-ring around said fitting within said control valve for providing a leak-proof seal therein, said O-ring being supported in a recess formed around the control valve end of said fitting, an annular flange formed on each side of said recess on said fitting and extending outward beyond the surface of said fitting, one of said flanges adapted to engage said locking ring to stop the outward sliding movement of said fitting in the event said coupling nut becomes loose and high pressures are present, said fitting being thereby prevented from becoming disconnected from said control valve and said flush valve being thereby shifted a limited distance apart from its relative position with said control valve, said O-ring being effective under such action to maintain a leak-proof seal between said fitting and said control valve, the other of said flanges adapted to engage a stop in said control valve to limit the inward adjustment of said fitting.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,728,769 9/1929 Pasman 285-389 X 2,459,608 1/1949 Wolfram 285-240 2,521,127 9/1950 Price 285-302 X 2,570,224 10/1951 Fason 285369 X 2,828,824 4/1958 Comstock 285-305 X 3,030,159 4/1962 Barnhart 285355 X FOREIGN PATENTS 109,712 9/1917 France.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

T. A. LISLE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A PLUMBING FITTING, AN ADJUSTABLE CONNECTION FOR USE BETWEEN A FLUSH VALVE AND A CONTROL VALVE TO COMPENSATE FOR VARIATIONS IN THE RELATIVE POSITION OF THE VALVES, SAID CONNECTION COMPRISING A TUBULAR FITTING THREADED AT ONE END INTO THE FLUSH VALVE AND HAVING ITS OTHER END SLIDABLY AND ADJUSTABLY INSERTED IN THE OUTLET END OF SAID CONTROL VALVE TO A POSITION DEPENDING UPON THE RELATIVE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE VALVES, THE ADJACENT WALLS OF SAID TUBULAR FITTING AND SAID CONTROL VALVE BEING SLIGHTLY SPACED APART, THE END OF SAID FITTING HAVING SPACED APART FLANGES FORMED THEREON EXTENDING OUTWARD FROM THE SIDE OF SAID FITTING INTO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE WALLS OF SAID CONTROL VALVE, AN O-RING RECESSED IN SAID FITTING BETWEEN SAID FLANGES AND IN SLIDABLE LEAK-PROOF CONTACT WITH THE WALLS OF SAID CONTROL VALVE, A LOCKING RING AROUND SAID FITTING SLIDABLE THEREON AND CLOSELY EMBRACING THE SAME AND BRIDGING THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID FITTING AND SAID CONTROL VALVE, SAID LOCKING RING HAVING A SHARP EDGE IN SLIDABLE CONTACT WITH SAID FITTING, A COUPLING NUT THREADED UPON THE OUTSIDE OF SAID CONTROL VALVE OUTLET AND HAVING A CLAMPING EDGE PORTION CLOSELY SLIDABLE ALONG THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF SAID FITTING, SAID CLAMPING NUT ADAPTED TO SLIDE AND FORCE SAID LOCKING RING ALONG SAID FITTING INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE END OF SAID CONTROL VALVE OUTLET TO A POSITION ON SAID FITTING DEPENDING UPON THE RELATIVE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FLUSH VALVE AND CONTROL VALVE, THE CONTACTING SURFACE BETWEEN SAID LOCKING RING AND WITH SAID COUPLING NUT AND THE END OF SAID CONTROL VALVE OUTLET BEING TAPERED WHEREBY TIGHTENING OF SAID COUPLING NUT FORCES THE SHARP EDGE OF SAID LOCKING RING INTO BITING AND LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SURFACE OF SAID FITTING, SAID LOCKING RING BRIDGING THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID FITTING AND CONTROL VALVE OUTLET, ONE OF SAID FLANGES ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND BE STOPPED BY SAID LOCKING RING TO PREVENT OUTWARD SLIDING MOVEMENT AND BLOW-OUT OF SAID FITTING FROM SAID CONTROL VALVE OUTLET, IN CASE SAID COUPLING NUT BECOMES LOOSE UNDER HIGH PRESSURE WHEREBY SAID FITTING REMAINS LOCKED IN SAID CONTROL VALVE OUTLET AND SAID O-RING MAINTAINS A LEAK-PROOF SEAL THEREIN. 